US demands Russia hand over Edward Snowden amid chase farce

America on Monday night demanded that Russia hand over the fugitive whistle-blower Edward Snowden, as his efforts to evade US authorities took a farcical turn.

Mr Snowden arrived in Moscow on Sunday and was expected to fly out to South America shortly afterwards.

Yesterday a plane heading for Cuba left seemingly without him, and the US suggested he had remained in Russia. The army of journalists waiting to greet him were left bemused, and questioning where he could be, as those reporters who did manage to get on the plane were dismayed to discover that Mr Snowden's seat was empty. Max Seddon, a reporter with AP, tweeted: "Cuba here we come. Taxiing down Sheremetevo runway and no sign of Snowden. Seats empty still by 17A."

There were suggestions that Mr Snowden could have been whisked into first class, or that officials from a third country could have sent their own private plane to pick him up. He could have remained in Russia, or he could have left the country immediately - giving everyone the slip.

President Barack Obama said the US was using "all the appropriate legal channels" to apprehend him.

Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said Washington assumed he was still in Moscow, and had registered its "deep disappointment" with Hong Kong and China for letting him slip away. He said the US was in touch with countries through which Mr Snowden could transit, although he refused to say which.

"This was a deliberate choice by the [Chinese] government to release a fugitive despite a valid arrest warrant, and that decision unquestionably has a negative impact on the US-China relationship," said Mr Carney.

The 30-year-old, a former contractor for the National Security Agency, has confessed to publishing a trove of documents detailing America's surveillance of its own citizens and foreigners. He was charged with spying on Friday, with charges of theft, "unauthorised communication of national defence information" and "willful communication of classified communications intelligence information to an unauthorised person".

Kristinn Hrafnsson, spokesman for WikiLeaks, confirmed he had made an informal approach to Iceland to inquire about asylum, as well as to Ecuador. Ecuador granted political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in August. Mr Hrafnsson had, he said, carried out "similar processes elsewhere" - but refused to mention where Mr Snowden had sought asylum.

Michael Ratner, WikiLeaks' lawyer in the US, said it would be either a "big country like China or Russia", which could stand up to American pressure - "or else a small South American one, such as Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba or Argentina".

But still no one knew where Mr Snowden was. Mr Snowden's lawyer Albert Ho said Mr Snowden was told by the authorities in Hong Kong that he could be at risk of arrest if he remained, and that he could be confined without his laptop. He told The New York Times Mr Snowden came to Hong Kong from Honolulu without a clear plan, and overestimating his freedom to move around Hong Kong. "He's a kid, I really think he's a kid," said Mr Ho. "He never anticipated this would be such a big matter in Hong Kong."

Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, said his organisation assisted Mr Snowden in his flight. Asked whether it was not surprising a champion of freedom of expression should ally himself with China, Russia, and potentially Cuba or Ecuador, Mr Assange said: "I do not see the irony." He said: "Mr Snowden has revealed information about mass unlawful spying that has affected us all. That is a very serious situation. Any country that upholds his human rights should be applauded."

Even if that country did not uphold the human rights of its own citizens? "That is another matter," he said. "We do not criticise people for seeking asylum in the US, despite its use of drone attacks and torture."

Mr Assange refused to discuss where the American could be - only confirming he had travelled with Sarah Harrison, a WikiLeaks activist. "Mr Snowden and Miss Harrison are healthy and in a safe place," he said. "I cannot give further information on their whereabouts or circumstances." He denied claims Mr Snowden was being debriefed by the Russian authorities, or had held meetings with the Chinese. He criticised the "extreme bellicose statements from the US, attempting to bully Russia into preventing Mr Snowden from soliciting asylum".

In a dial-in press conference, he added: "It is counterproductive and unacceptable for Obama to curtail the right of asylum. It reflects poorly on his administration, and no self-respecting country would submit to such tactics.

"The kidnapping or incapacitation of Mr Snowden must have been contemplated. So I believe that he did the right thing to go public in the way he did."